Paris Brown, the country’s first youth police commissioner, has said she fell
victim to internet "bravado" as she resigned over apparently racist and
homophobic comments made on Twitter.

Paris Brown, 17, stepped down today just days after her appointment was announced following growing pressure from MPs and the public.

The teenager, appointed to the £15,000-a-year role last week, posted the messages between the ages of 14 and 16 and has apologised for causing offence through what she described as her "use of inappropriate language".

Miss Brown said: “I strongly reiterate that I am not racist or homophobic. I have fallen into the trap of behaving with bravado on social networking sites. I hope this may stand as a learning experience for many other young people.

“I have made this decision after a great deal of thought and consultation with my family.

“As I made clear over the weekend, I accept that I have made comments on social networking sites which have offended many people. I am really sorry for any offence caused.

“I now feel that in the interests of everyone concerned, in particular the young people of Kent who I feel will benefit enormously from the role of a Youth Commissioner, that I should stand down as I feel that the recent media furore will continue and hamper my ability to perform the job to the level required.

“I would like to thank those people who have sent messages of support and understanding.

“I wish the Commissioner, Kent Police and the person eventually appointed to this role every success. Finally, I ask for the time and space to recover from what has been a very difficult time and to allow me to move on.”

Kent police and crime commissioner Ann Barnes has defended Miss Brown, stressing that her recruitment to the position – the first in the UK – was not a gimmick.

Talking at a press conference today, she said it was "a very sad day".

She also faces a police investigation by her own employer, Kent police.

Mrs Barnes, 67, who is paying £5,000 of Brown's salary from her own pay, said she did not condone the nature of the tweets but asked for some perspective due to Brown's age.

Kent police and crime commissioner Ann Barnes has defended Miss Brown, stressing that her recruitment to the position – the first in the UK – was not a gimmick.

She said the teenager was one of 164 applicants for the job, intended to provide young people's views on policing, and she was the best one and a "confident and articulate woman".

But she told BBC News that the teenager's Twitter account had not been vetted when they offered her the job.

"We went through a perfectly normal recruitment process and we had her vetted by the force," she said.

"Nobody normally looks through anybody's Twitter feed – perhaps that's a lesson for the future. We are living in a different world now."

A Kent police spokeswoman said: "Kent police undertakes varying levels of vetting and higher levels of vetting can include checks on a social media account."

In a statement on Sunday, Brown said: "I deeply apologise for any offence caused by my use of inappropriate language and for any inference of inappropriate views.

"I am not homophobic, racist or violent and am against the taking of drugs.

"If I'm guilty of anything, it's showing off and wildly exaggerating on Twitter and I am very ashamed of myself."

Her appointment has been condemned in the light of the publication of the tweets.